Astrocytes contribute to gamma oscillations and recognition memory.

Glial cells are an integral part of functional communication in the brain. Here we show that astrocytes contribute to the fast dynamics of neural circuits that underlie normal cognitive behaviors. In particular, we found that the selective expression of tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) in astrocytes significantly reduced the duration of carbachol-induced gamma oscillations in hippocampal slices. These data prompted us to develop a novel transgenic mouse model, specifically with inducible tetanus toxin expression in astrocytes. In this in vivo model, we found evidence of a marked decrease in electroencephalographic (EEG) power in the gamma frequency range in awake-behaving mice, whereas neuronal synaptic activity remained intact. The reduction in cortical gamma oscillations was accompanied by impaired behavioral performance in the novel object recognition test, whereas other forms of memory, including working memory and fear conditioning, remained unchanged. These results support a key role for gamma oscillations in recognition memory. Both EEG alterations and behavioral deficits in novel object recognition were reversed by suppression of tetanus toxin expression. These data reveal an unexpected role for astrocytes as essential contributors to information processing and cognitive behavior.

Aß induces astrocytic glutamate release, extrasynaptic NMDA receptor activation, and synaptic loss.

Synaptic loss is the cardinal feature linking neuropathology to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the mechanism of synaptic damage remains incompletely understood. Here, using FRET-based glutamate sensor imaging, we show that amyloid-ß peptide (Aß) engages α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors to induce release of astrocytic glutamate, which in turn activates extrasynaptic NMDA receptors (eNMDARs) on neurons. In hippocampal autapses, this eNMDAR activity is followed by reduction in evoked and miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs). Decreased mEPSC frequency may reflect early synaptic injury because of concurrent eNMDAR-mediated NO production, tau phosphorylation, and caspase-3 activation, each of which is implicated in spine loss. In hippocampal slices, oligomeric Aß induces eNMDAR-mediated synaptic depression. In AD-transgenic mice compared with wild type, whole-cell recordings revealed excessive tonic eNMDAR activity accompanied by eNMDAR-sensitive loss of mEPSCs. Importantly, the improved NMDAR antagonist NitroMemantine, which selectively inhibits extrasynaptic over physiological synaptic NMDAR activity, protects synapses from Aß-induced damage both in vitro and in vivo.

Deletion of the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene improves cognitive deficits and synaptic pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

It has been recently shown that the Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenic peptide amyloid beta(1-42) (Abeta(1-42)) binds to the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (alpha7nAChR) with high affinity and the alpha7nAChR and Abeta(1-42) are both found colocalized in neuritic plaques of human brains with AD. Moreover, the intraneuronal accumulation of Abeta(1-42) was shown to be facilitated by its high-affinity binding to the alpha7nAChR, and alpha7nAChR activation mediates Abeta-induced tau protein phosphorylation. To test the hypothesis that alpha7nAChRs are involved in AD pathogenesis, we used a transgenic mouse model of AD overexpressing a mutated form of the human amyloid precursor protein (APP) and lacking the alpha7nAChR gene (APPalpha7KO). We have shown that, despite the presence of high amounts of APP and amyloid deposits, deleting the alpha7nAChR subunit in the mouse model of AD leads to a protection from the dysfunction in synaptic integrity (pathology and plasticity) and learning and memory behavior. Specifically, APPalpha7KO mice express APP and Abeta at levels similar to APP mice, and yet they were able to solve a cognitive challenge such as the Morris water maze test significantly better than APP, with performances comparable to control groups. Moreover, deleting the alpha7nAChR subunit protected the brain from loss of the synaptic markers synaptophysin and MAP2, reduced the gliosis, and preserved the capacity to elicit long-term potentiation otherwise deficient in APP mice. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the alpha7nAChR plays a role in AD and suggest that interrupting alpha7nAChR function could be beneficial in the treatment of AD.

Dopamine depletion induces distinct compensatory gene expression changes in DARPP-32 signal transduction cascades of striatonigral and striatopallidal neurons.

Functional alterations in striatal projection neurons play a critical role in the development of motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD), but their molecular adaptation to dopamine depletion remains poorly understood. In particular, type and extent of regulation in postsynaptic signal transduction pathways that determine the responsiveness of striatal projection neurons to incoming stimuli, are currently unknown. Using cell-type-specific transcriptome analyses in a rodent model of chronic dopamine depletion, we identified large-scale gene expression changes, including neurotransmitter receptors, signal transduction cascades, and target proteins of dopamine signaling in striatonigral and striatopallidal neurons. Within the dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein of 32 kDa (DARPP-32) cascade of enzymes that plays a central role in signal integration of dopaminoceptive neurons multiple catalytic and regulatory subunits change their mRNA expression levels. In addition to the number of genes the fact that the alterations occur at multiple levels stresses the biological relevance of transcriptional regulation for adaptations of postsynaptic signaling pathways. The overall pattern of changes in both striatonigral and striatopallidal neurons is compatible with homeostatic mechanisms. In accordance with the distinct biological effects of dopamine D(1) and D(2) receptor stimulation, the alterations of the transcriptional profiles most likely result in prodopaminergic phosphorylation patterns. Our data provide insight into the disease-related plasticity of functional genomic networks in vivo that might contribute to the protracted preclinical phase of PD. In addition, the data have potential implications for the symptomatic treatment of the disease.

Dopamine depletion induced up-regulation of HCN3 enhances rebound excitability of basal ganglia output neurons.

Motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) are associated with complex changes of firing properties in basal ganglia output neurons (BGON). The abnormalities are generally attributed to altered synaptic input and potential post-synaptic mechanisms are currently unknown. Our cell-type selective transcriptome analyses of BGON in the rat 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) model of PD identified the ion channel HCN3 as a likely contributor to altered neuronal excitability. Quantitative PCR experiments confirmed the HCN3 upregulation in the rat and mouse 6-OHDA models and also demonstrated selectivity of the effect for HCN3. In accordance with the mRNA expression data, in vitro whole cell patch-clamp recordings in BGON showed increased HCN3 current amplitudes and increased rebound excitability in BGON of 6-OHDA treated rats. These data establish HCN3 up-regulation as a novel candidate mechanism that might contribute to the in vivo changes of electrical activity in basal ganglia output neurons of the parkinsonian brain.

The adult substantia nigra contains progenitor cells with neurogenic potential.

In Parkinson's disease, progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SN) leads to debilitating motor dysfunction. One current therapy aims at exogenous cellular replacement of dopaminergic function by transplanting fetal midbrain cells into the striatum, the main projection area of the SN. However, results using this approach have shown variable success. It has been proposed that cellular replacement by endogenous stem/progenitor cells may be useful for therapeutic interventions in neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease. Although it is widely accepted that progenitor cells are present in different areas of the adult CNS, it is unclear whether such cells reside in the adult SN and whether they have the potential to replace degenerating neurons. Here, we describe a population of actively dividing progenitor cells in the adult SN, which in situ give rise to new mature glial cells but not to neurons. However, after removal from the SN, these progenitor cells immediately have the potential to differentiate into neurons. Transplantation of freshly isolated SN progenitor cells into the adult hippocampus showed that these cells also have a neuronal potential under in vivo conditions. These results suggest that progenitor cells reside in the adult SN and can give rise to new neurons when exposed to appropriate environmental signals. This developmental potential of SN progenitor cells might be useful for future endogenous cell replacement strategies in Parkinson's disease.

Metformin treatment alters memory function in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Metabolic dysfunction exacerbates Alzheimer's disease (AD) incidence and progression. Here we report that activation of the AMPK pathway, a common target in the management of diabetes, results in gender-divergent cognitive effects in a murine model of the disease. Specifically, our results show that activation of AMPK increases memory dysfunction in males but is protective in females, suggesting that gender considerations may constitute an important factor in medical intervention of diabetes as well as AD.